Plug in solar

Ectophile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81950610#Comment_81950610

The biggest nightmare is going to be people buying electric cars and replacing gas boilers with heat pumps. Both can draw kilowatts of power for hours on end.

A few balcony solar systems generating 800W each is nothing by comparison.

tfhnota

I guess if you already have rooftop solar and you do an extra plug-in solar facing a different direction to catch solar that the roof doesn't you can stay within whatever export limit you were allowed.

Anyone who does not have solar, picking up 800-1200W of panels before the new certified plug-in inverters appear (around £100-150, I guess) may be a good option, always some available on Facebook Marketplace as well as the new stuff, if you have some kind of transport. I got around 1000W from two new panels for £170 delivered, and they are both bifacial and optimised for low light (but now out of stock) - I would suspect better quality than the kits.

I still have the option of doing an off-grid circuit with a battery (or both if the panel kits are good), battery prices are likely to fall going forward whilst panels may increase. Charge controller plus 2000W 48V inverter works out at £120 plus whatever a 48V battery ends up costing (£250-600 depending on size and quality at the moment). I will probably opt for this arrangement if there are no payments for export on the plug-in system (which seems to be the case) as I am an ultra low user and reckon I can cover my usage with two panels for 6-8 months of the year. We shall see. Not really worrying about the payback as the money comes out of my fun fund and does not affect my general spending or savings.

EcoScruples

it’s an interesting one for anyone with solar already for sure. Adding a few extra panels without the need to have them professionally installed does open up the options.

I can’t wait to see all the places we never thought panel could go, the ingenuity of people far surpasses my imagination.

TroubledTarts

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81950713#Comment_81950713

Whilst the electricity price is bound to the gas prices the uptake will be slow (like it has been) if Mad Ed manages to decouple that then gas will start to look expensive compared to electricity and a few more heads may be turned.

Given the opposition to the National Grid upgrades due to NIMBY's and their proposed taking the National grid to the highest courts for ruining house prices, wildlife habitats etc etc you may well be right the infrastructure won't be ready for the expansion of all electric houses.

QrizB

@Plugsolarhub I'm glad you're so enthusiastc but please note that using the MSE Forum to promote your own website is contrary to the Forum rules and you'll probably end up being flagged as spam.

martyp

Hi all,

I notice this is a hot topic and I'm just looking into this after a colleague suggested it. My electric bill is probably low compared to many at around £50 a month generally, estimated annual consumption of 2453kWh.

I like the idea I can get a set up where I have maybe just one solar panel out on the patio on a sunny day and plug it into the mains and my devices then use that rather than power from the grid (e.g. not feeding back into the grid but just not taking power from it) as I understand the devices would utilise electricity from the closest source?

Can you plug it into an extension lead even or would it have to be a wall socket?

Sorry I'm not an electrician in the slightest but if such an arrangement is a possibility and might save something on my bills and legal and safe of course I like the idea if it is as simple as I'm imagining?

Many thanks

Qyburn

I can see scope for a clever system where production in excess of 800W goes into a battery, and separate AC sockets allow higher load appliances to draw from solar/battery/grid.

QrizB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81959158#Comment_81959158

Systems like that already exist, eg. Ecoflow Stream Pro / Max / Ultra. (Similar products are available from other brands, it's not unique to Ecoflow, but theyre the ones I'm familiar with.)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ECOFLOW-Batteries-Balcony-Compatible-Microinverters%EF%BC%8CSmart/dp/B0F5BGHR88?th=1

martyp

This has probably already been posted in this thread but just in case if not:

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source/news/plug-in-solar-panels-explained.html

Martyn1981

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81959156#Comment_81959156

Ohh, that's a cracking question. I think as an initial step, and for anyone who won't take it seriously, then don't use an ext lead.

But, so long as you are sensible and think it through properly then OK(ish)? Let's go with the upper figure of 800W, and assume 2x 500Wp panels as an upper test on the idea. That could mean a sustained 800W/3.5A through the ext lead for 4-6hrs. For comparison, I'm happy to use an extension lead for a granny charger for far longer, to charge an EV. BUT (BIG BUT) a 13A ext lead, and I dial the car amps down from 10A to 5A or 6A.

For one panel, say 400-500W, delivering a sustained ~400W, I don't think an ext lead is wrong, but it does scare me a tad, just for the potential of silly people doing silly things. Hope that makes sense, and I totally understand if all the electricians call me an idiot, things can go wrong as you add more and more factors.